GSC hosting college, university women from around the state

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville State College will host the Second Annual Women's Leadership in Public Service Institute for six days starting Wednesday, drawing women from colleges and universities across the state.

GSC was selected as a partner in Rutgers University's national NEW Leadership network, which cultivates women's leadership in the public sphere. Rutgers' Center for American Women and Politics currently partners with seventeen universities and colleges across the country in an effort to inspire and train undergraduate women for leadership in community activism and state or national level politics.

The 2011 Women's Leadership in Public Service Institute, a residential institute that teaches college women about politics and policy making to inspire them to get involved in leadership roles in public service, will be in session June 1-5, 2011 at Cuscowilla Resort on Lake Oconee. During the six-day institute, students will have the opportunity to meet and interact with women who work in a variety of public service roles, including politics and government, non-profits and community organizing, and lobbying and activism. Participants will learn about women's political participation, discuss their ideas about leadership and politics, and participate in interactive activities to develop their own leadership skills. Women's Leadership in Public Service strives to teach, lead and empower young women to become the next generation of leaders in public service.

The residential nature of the program and the relaxed environment will allow students to engage with community and political leaders through informal discussion as well as formalized presentations and workshops. Participants will also be able to get to know other students from across the state who share similar interests. The workshop is non-partisan and strives to inspire and educate future women leaders, not promote any particular policies.

The speaker list includes women in a variety of leadership roles in Georgia and from a variety of political perspectives. Bob Littell, author of Netweaving, is scheduled to be the Keynote Speaker and will make a presentation on June 3 following dinner.